Regulator.



No. 688,614. 'Patented Dec. [0, l90l.

, A. R. EVEREST.

REGULATOR.

(Application filed May 4, 1899.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

THE News Firms ca. Pumouma. WASHINGTON. o. c.

fiugustine R. Eve rest, E

No. 688,6!4; PatentedDec. I0, I90l.

A. R. EVEREST. Y

REGULATOR.

(Application filed m 4. 1899.)

(No Model.) H '3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

c5 o 3) o 1 5 c o o o nr NORRIS PETERS cu. FHOTQUTHQ. w r sn nm ou. u. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

AUGUSTINE R. EVEREST, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To THE GENERAL ELEcTRIc COMPANY, A coRPoRATIoN on NEW YoRK.

tiEc'uLAToR.

sTEcIEIoATIoN formingitm of Letters Patent No. 68,614, dated December 10, 1901. Application filed May 4, 1899. Serial No. 715516. (No model.)

To an whom it may concern.- ing is then entirely out out of circuit. A con- Be it known that I, AUGUSTINE R. EVEREST, tinued movement of the contacts cuts in the a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, re secondary winding by degrees, but with its siding at Lynn, county of Essex, State of Maselectromotive force reversed with respect to 55 sachusetts, have invented certain new and the working circuit.

useful Improvements 'in Regulators, (Case The regulating-transformer is ordinarily N0. 836,) of which the'followingis a specificaconstructed so that its secondary electromotion. tive force is equal to ten per cent. of the ini- My invention relates to the regulation of altial electromotive force operating in the cir- 6o 10 ternating-currentsystems of distribution,and cuit to be regulated. The regulator thus alhas reference more specially to that type of lows an increase in electromotive force of ten regulator-in which the electromotive force in per cent. above this initial value and ten per a working circuit is altered by including in cent. below. In some cases, however, a still series therewiththe electromotive force degreater reduction in electromotive force is 65 rived from the secondary of a transformer. necessary. My invention aims to overcome This secondary electromotive force maybe inthis disadvantage, not by altering the nature cluded in the Working circuit either in conor capacity of the regulator, but by altering junction with or in opposition to the initial the initial electromotive force of the circuit electromotive force operating'thereon, while tobe regulated. In accordancewith myinven 70 intermediate gradations of electromotive tion the working circuitinstead of beingconforce may be secured by varying the electronected across the supply-mains is connected motive force of the secondary winding by across a source of electromotive force either changing the ratio of transformation of the of smaller or larger value. Thus the termiregulating-transformer-as, for example, by nals of the working circuit may be connected 75 varying the numberofactivesecondary turns. one to one of the supply-mains to which the Heretofore when it has been desired to primary of the working transformer is conchange the relation of the regulating electronected and the other to an intermediate motive force with respect to the electromotive point in the primary of the transformer, or, force in the working circuit from conjunction if desired, only a portion of the primary may 80 to opposition or the reverse it has been cusbe included between the supply-mains and tomary to employ a suitably-connected rethe working circuit connected to its extremiversing-switch. This is a troublesome comties. The primary thus acts as a compensaplication, and my invention aims to do away tor or autoconverter, and it will therefore be with the same by the employment of a novel evident that the initial electromotive force 85 means for'cuttin'g in and out the turns of the supplied to the working circuit may be made secondary winding of the regulating-transanything desired from zero up to a value former. Instead of varying the turns from greater than that between the supply-mains. one end of the secondary winding only,Imake It is of course obvious that the working use of a switching device having two moving circuit might be supplied from a compensa- 90 0 contacts which operate to simultaneously tor or transformer independent of the reguvary the turns of the secondary winding from lating-transformer; but such an arrangement both of its ends. Each contact is connected is of course objectionable on account of, the to one of the terminals ofthe circuit to be reguadditional cost and expense of operation. lated and has a continuous movement over In accordance with my invention this addi- 5 fixed contacts connected at intervals to the tional cost and inconvenience is obviated by whole length of secondary winding, so that utilizing the primary of the regulating-transwhen the moving contacts approach each former in the dual capacity of a primary and other the amount of active secondary winda compensator or autoconverter. ing 'is reduced until a point is reached where It will of course be understood that the 100 both contacts make connection with the same electromotive force derivable from the secpoint in the secondary windin The windondary of the regulating-transformer is substantially the same whether the working circuit to be regulated is connected across both of the mains of the supply-circuit or to one'of the mains and to a point in the primary noncoincident with the connection of the other main thereto.

My invention will be more readily understood by-reference to the following description of an embodiment of the same, while its scope will be clearly and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a panel equipped with a regulatingswitch. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional detail on a large scale of the operating mechanism, and Figs. 4 and 5 are diagrams of connections.

I have shown my improved regulatingswitch mounted onapanelA, made of marble, slate, or other suitable material, each of the four corners of which is provided with a metal bushing B, designed to receive a bolt or other device for supporting the panel in place. As herein shown, the panel is complete in itself, so that one or more of the regulators may be added to or taken away from a station without affecting the operation of any other regulating-switch. Mounted on the upper part of the panel is a double-pole single-throw switch 0, which is arranged to open and close the primary circuit of the transformer mounted on the back of the board. Situated near the lower terminals of the switch are fuses D and D, the fuses being arranged on the front of the panel, so that they are readily accessible. Situated in about the middle of the panel and arranged to form more or less of a circle are a number of segmental contacts E, and these contacts are connected to sections of the sec ondary of a transformenwhich is mounted on the back of the board, as will be explained hereinafter. Goncentrically arranged with respect to the segmental contacts and insulated therefrom is a conductor F, forming a more or less complete circle; Mounted on the panel and concentrically arranged with respect to the above-mentioned contacts is a conductor G, extending a number of degrees corresponding with the amount of movement of the moving contacts. Mounted for movement over the stationary contacts is a pair of contacts H and I. The former is arranged to bridge contacts F and E and the latter to bridge contacts E and G. The construction and arrangement of these contacts are best shown in Fig. 3. Mounted on a head J,which is secured to the panel A by screws, isa stud J, and mounted for rotary movement on the stud are two bevel-gears K and L. The gear K is provided with a hub, and rigidly secured to this hub is an arm K, which carries the contact I. The contact I is composed of a flat metal block having a contact-surface on its under side arranged to rub onthecontact ring or plate G and the segmental contacts E.

The block is carried by a flat spring-arm I,

which is mounted in the forked end of the arm K and is insulated from the arm by two flat pieces of fiber l or other similar material. The gear L is provided with a hub, and rigidly secured thereto is a forked arm L, which is arranged to carry the contact-block H. Between the block and the arm and insulated therefrom by pieces of fiber H is a fiat spring H. The contact-block is provided with a smooth under surface and is arranged to bridge the contactwing F and the segmental contacts E. Rigidly secured to an extension of the hub of the gear L is a collar L to which the operating-handle M is secured by screws. Fastened to the outer end of they stud J is a collar J which holds the gears in operative relation. Mounted on a suitable support N, which is secured to the panel by two screws N, (shown in dotted lines,) is a pinion O, which is free to rotate on the stud O and meshes with the bevel-gears K and L, so that when motion is imparted to the gear L in one direction it will impart a corresponding movement to the gear K, but in the opposite direction. With the gears arrangedas described'the contacts H and I move in concentric paths, one inside of the other. By this arrangement both contacts can be made to move from one extremity to the other of the concentrically-arranged stationary contacts. Situated on the lower portion of the board is an ammeter S of any desired type, the one shown being designed more particularly to indicate 3.5 amperes, since the regulator is more especially intended for use where that amount of current is the standard, and any deviation from that amount requires that the regulator shall be adjusted. Mounted in brackets P on the back Of the panel is a transformer of any suitable con strnction, the one shown comprising a body of laminae Q, a secondary coil Q, and apri mary coil Q mounted within the secondary coil. The brackets, in addition to supporting the transformer, serve to hold the laminae and are clamped together by the b0ltsP. The brackets are retained in place by bolts P, which extend through to the front of the panel. By arranging the transformer so that it is separated from the panel by an air-space good ventilation is afforded and at the same time danger from short circuits is reduced to a minimum.

Referring to Fig. 4, R and T represent the mains of an alternating-current system of distri bution,and con nected across these mains is the primary winding Q of a transformer. The circuit through the transformer is con trolled by the double-pole switch 0, and fuses D and l) are employed to interrupt the circuit when overloaded. For the purpose. of illustration the contacts E, F, and G have been shown developed in a straightline, since it renders the operation of the regulator easier to understand. a Y

Extending from the secondary Q to the contacts E areanumber of leads q, shown as connected at intervals to the secondary winding. Between the contacts E and insulated therefrom are pieces of metal 6, which form no portion of the circuit, but are designed to support the contacts when they move from one contact to the next. It will be noted that the pieces of metal 6 are slightly wider than the moving contacts H and I. This is to prevent the moving contacts from short-circuiting a turn or section of the secondary in passing from one fixed contact to the next. The fixed contact-strip F is connected by, means of a conductor F to one side of the primary Winding, and the fixed contact-strip G is connected to the other terminal of the circuit to be regulated. In the presentinstance a n umber of lamps U are included in the circuit to be regulated; but any other form of translatingdevice may be substituted, if desired.

Assuming that the contacts H and I are standing on the same contact, which by reasonofthe construction of the regulator means that they are in theposition shown in Fig. 1,

the secondary is entirely out of circuit and has no effect upon the voltage supplied to the work-circuit. If the contacts are moved toa new position byrotatingthe handle M in a clockwise direction, the voltage due to the secondary winding is added to that of the system, while if the contacts are moved in an anticlockwise direction the voltage of the secondary opposes that of the system and the voltage between the contact G and the main T is decreased.

As stated above, when the contacts Hand I are opposite each other and on the same contact the secondary has no effect on the voltage of the system; but the instant they are moved either side of this point the voltage of that much of the secondary as is included between the contacts is added to or subtracted from that supplied to the translating devices. By reason of this construction I am enabled to do away with a separate reversing-switch and the consequent contacts and moving parts, yet at the same time to secure the same result as with a reversing-switch without inlugs,

This regulator is satisfactory for use within certain limits-as, for example, where the voltage of the secondary is ten per cent. of that of the working circuit-thus giving a total variation of voltage of twenty per cent.-'-

ten per cent. above and ten per cent. below the normal voltage of the working circuit. It

terrupting the circuit of either of the wind 5 supply mains, but is connected across a length of the primary winding of the transformer greater or less than that included between the supply-maius. The primary winding thus acts as a compensator to vary to any amount desired the voltage supplied to the working circuit. This voltage as thus varied may be regulated, as before, by adding there'- to or subtracting therefrom the voltage produced in the secondary winding of the regulator.

. For purposes of comparison Fig. 5 illustrates the connections, respectively, in the cases where theworking circuit is connected directly across the mains and where it is con nected across a length of primary winding different from that included between the mains. The circuit 1 is connected directly across the mains 2 and is regulated by means of the voltage set up in the secondary 3 of the regulating-transformer, the primary of which is indicatedat 4. The connections of the circuit 5 differ from those of the circuit 1 only in that it may be connected across a length of the primary 6 different from that included between the mains 2. It will be obvious that the initial voltage impressed upon the working circuit 5 depends upon the amount of primary winding included between the terminals 7 8 of the working circuit 5. The ter minal 8 of the working circuit may be so arranged as to be connected with any one of a number of points in the primary winding or -to an extension of the same, as indicated at 9, and to make these connections a plug-con nector may be employed.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, I have shown the mechanical construction of the apparatus used to make these connections. On the back of the panel and connected in circuit with the contact F is a metallic strap W, and mounted on the strap are three sockets W, which are directly in line with the circular contacts W ,mou nted on the back of the panel. The contacts W are connected to the various sections of the primary winding, while the sockets VV' are connected to one end of the primary winding, so that by inserting the plug F through any one of the contacts W until it enters one of the sockets W the amount of primary,winding between the terminals of the working circuit may be varied.

Although I have shown my invention as applied to an alternating-current system of distribution, it will be evident that many of its features may be used in other relations as well.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is--- 1. In a controller for electric circuits, the combination of a plurality of fixed contacts in cooperative relation to a plurality of mov= ing contacts having a common center and arranged so as to pass each other, and means for simultaneously imparting movement to the moving contacts in opposite directions.

2. In a controller for electric circuits, the combination of a series of fixed contacts each connected to a circuit, moving contacts mounted for engagement therewith, the moving contacts being so arranged that they can pass each other while engaging with the same contact, and means for simultaneously actuating the moving contacts.

3. In a controller for electric circuits, the combination of a plurality of fixed contacts each connected to a section of a winding mounted on an iron core, contacts or brushes arranged to move over the fixed contacts in opposite directions to vary the circuit connections, the arrangement being such that when the moving brushes rest on the same contact all of the winding is out outof circuit, and means for actuating the brushes.

4. In a controller, the combination of supports, brushes mounted thereon for concentric movement, a bevel-gear mounted on each of the supports, a pinion arranged to mesh with the gears and a handle which is secured to one of the brush-supports.

5. In a controller, the combination of a spindle, a brush-holder mounted thereon, a bevel-gear attached to the holder, a second brush-holder also mounted on the spindle, a bevel-gear attached to this holder, a pinion meshing with the gears, a support for the pinion and an operating-handle secured to one of the gears.

6. In a controller, the combination of a set of insulated contacts, a pair of brushes mounted for movement over the contacts in opposite directions, and a contact over which the brushes simultaneously pass in moving from one extreme position to the other.

7. In an alternating-current regulator, the combination of a transformer having two windings in inductive relation to each other, taps extending from one of the windings to a set of contacts, an adjustable connection extendingbetween the other winding and a fixed contact and brushes mounted for movement over the set of contacts, the arrangement being such that when the brushes are moved one way from a given position they cut one of the windings into circuit in a manner to raise the voltage of the system, and when moved in the opposite direction to decrease the voltage.

8. In a regulator for alternating currents, the combination of a subdivided primary winding connected to the mains of a system and acting to excite a second winding,aworking circuit including said second winding and connected across points in the first winding, contacts for varying the amount of said second winding in circuit, and means for varying the amount of primary winding in circuit.

9. The combination of a subdivided main source of electromotive force, a subdivided auxiliary source of electromotive force, and a work-circuit supplied from the main source of electromotive force and having in series therewith a selected number of subdivisions of the auxiliary source of electromotive force.

10. The combination of a subdivided main source of electromotive force, a subdivided auxiliary source of electromotive force,a'workcircuit supplied from a selected number of subdivisions of the main source of electromotive force and having in series therewith a selected number of subdivisions of the auxiliary source of electromotive force,and means for varying the number of subdivisions of the auxiliary source of electromotive force included in said circuit.

11. The combination of a single row of fixed contacts, means for maintaining the contacts at different electrical potentials, two contacts movable over the row of fixed contacts and cooperating therewith, and means for simultaneously moving the said two contacts equal distances on either side of a middle position.

12. The combination of a single row of fixed contacts, means for maintaining the contacts at different electrical potentials, two contacts movable over the row of fixed contacts, and means for moving the movable contacts in opposite directions into connection with every fixed contact.

13. The combination of a row of fixed contacts, means for maintaining the contacts at different electrical potentials, two contacts each movable over the row of fixed contacts and adaptedto make connection with any of said fixed contacts, and means for moving one of the movable contacts from a fixed contact of higher potential to a fixed contact of lower potential and cooperating means for simultaneously moving the other movable contact from a fixed contact of lower potential to a fixed contact of higher potential, thereby varying the difference of potential between the two movable contacts.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of May, 1899.

AUGUSTINE R. EVEREST.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM J. WOOLDRIDGE, DUGALD MCKILLOP. 

